If I may I will make a point here which is neither trying to condone or condemn gun ownership or legal use. The difference between most American hunters and some British ones is this. Your average American hunter usually owns a variety of weapons, each suited to particular uses (unless he/she only hunts one variety of animal). Just as you wouldn’t use a 6 pound lump hammer to drive panel pins you don’t use a .22LR on deer or a .308 Winchester on rats. There are some in this country who would be foolish enough to tackle anything with anything as long as it goes bang and pushes something lethal out of the business end.